Fluid flow system



April 28, 1970 1. G. BUTCHER ET AL 3,508,571

FLUID FLOW .SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1967 FIGI INVENTORS.

IVAL G. DUTCHER WILLIAM T. LAMPMAN BY fifiw ba /W, 0 44, JLWZ WCM ATTORNEYS.

April 28, 1970 G BUTCHER EI'AL 3,508,571

FLUID FLOW SYSTEM Filed Oct. 10,'1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGB FIGZ

T X 22 I l l 1.2| a 1,, a! I R i ls Patented Apr. 28, 1970 3,508,571 FLUID FLOW SYSTEM Ival G. Dutcher, Stevensville, and William T. Lampman, St. Joseph, Micln, assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 674,179 Int. Cl. D06f 39/08 US. Cl. 137216 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fluid flow system for a receptacle such as a system for supplying liquid to and venting gaseous fluid from a dishwasher in which the system comprises a liquid receptacle such as a dishwasher tub having vent means, a liquid receiver in the receptacle communicating with the vent means, a fluid passage between the receiver and the receptacle at an area below the vent means and a device for projecting liquid in an open stream through the,vent means into the receiver for flow through the passage into the receptacle with simultaneous flow of gaseous fluid such as air and moisture vapor from the receptacle by Way of this passage, receiver and vent means.

The system of this invention provides a vent through which liquid for a receptacle such as a tub may be projected in an open stream so as to provide a vacuum break forlthe incoming liquid. In addition, the system provides a liquid inlet into the receptacle and a gaseous fluid vent from the receptacle while the liquid is entering. Also, in the preferred structure, there is provided an overfill safety device that prevents flooding of the interior of the system externally of the receptacle which in the case of a dishwasher or the like might cause damage to the electrical components as the heater terminals, the motor, thermostat and the like.

The invention will be described as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing portion of the interior of a dishwasher embodying the invention with the lid removed.

FIGURE 2 is a detail front elevational view showing the right side of FIGURE 3 of a liquid receiver embodiment.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view through a portion of the dishwasher including the liquid receiver and associated structure.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view partially broken away of the overfill safety device portion of the apparatus.

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the device taken from the left side of FIGURE 5.

The invention is disclosed in the drawings as embodied in a dishwasher. This dishwasher which is shown in part in FIGURES 1 and 4 comprises a tub 10 enclosed within a casing or shell 11 and having a liquid inlet tube 12 which has its other end connected to the liquid supply for supplying liquid to the tub 10.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the tub 10 is flared outwardly at 13 and is provided with a top opening 14 serving as a vent means. The tub 10 functions as a liquid receptacle.

Communicating with the vent 14 in the tub 10 wall is a liquid receiver 15. The liquid receiver 15, which may be made of a molded plastic, is positioned on the interior of the tub 10 to enclose the vent opening 14. Arranged in conjunction with the receiver 15 is a projecting means including the liquid inlet tube 12 for projecting liquid, as illustrated by the stream 16 in FIGURE 4, through the vent opening into the receiver 15. This receiver is provided with a plurality of fluid passages 17 in the bottom communicating with the interior of the tub 10 as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 4.

As can be seen in FIGURE 4, the liquid stream 16 is projected through space into the receiver 15 by way of the vent opening 14. This serves to provide a vacuum breaker to prevent liquid being drawn back up into the tube 12 in the event of malfunction. The receiver 15 substantially entirely encloses the vent opening 14 and is substantially sealed to the interior of the tub 10 by reason of a peripheral lip 18 on the receiver. Thus the receiver 15 cooperating with the enclosed portion of the wall of the tub 10 provides a liquid receiving chamber 19 into which the liquid stream 16 is received. The liquid thereupon flows out the bottom fluid passages 17 while gaseous fluid including air flows from the interior of the tub 10 through the fluid passages 17, the chamber 19 and out the vent opening 14.

In the illustrated embodiment the receiver 15 is provided with a mounting member 20 in the form of a bracket 21 and an upwardly projecting tube 22 for holding the projecting means liquid inlet tube 12 to direct the stream 16. As is shown in FIGURE 4 this mounting member 20 extends through the vent opening 14 to the exterior of the receptacle or tub 10. In order to prevent liquid that enters the chamber 19 from splashing back up through the vent opening 14 there are provided intercepting means for intercepting the splashing liquid. In the illustrated embodiment the intercepting means comprises a plurality of vertically spaced downwardly and inwardly inclined balfles 23 with each baflie located at the bottom of the receiver 15 and above a bottom fluid passage 17. The baffles 23 also prevent liquid from being thrown out of vent 14 when the dishwasher is in its recirculation mode of operation.

The fluid flow system of this invention also provides an overfill safety device 24 located above the bottommost passage 17 but below the topmost passage. This safety device is to prevent water overflowing into the space between the tub 10 and casing 11 of the illustrated dishwasher or similar apparatus in the event an excessive amount of liquid is directed into the tub 10 by reason of a malfunction such as a timer failure or valve failure. If it were not for such a safety device the tub 10 would continue to fill until overflowing through the vent opening 14 and the overflow could easily flow down the sides of the tub into the electrical circuitry. The overfill safety device prevents this.

As illustrated the overfill device comprises a molded generally cylindrical part 25 that is an integral portion of the liquid receiver 15 and that extends rearwardly from the lowermost baflies 23 at the bottom of the receiver 15. This cylindrical part 25 has an open end that is sealed by means of an annular gasket 26 to a circular opening in the wall of the tub 10. Aligned with this opening is a similar but larger opening in the casing 11 through which extends an outlet tube 27 having an outlet end 28 emptying to the exterior of the casing 11 and a forward projecting tubular end 29 extending through in sealing relationship with the opening in the annular gasket 26 and attached to the plastic receiver 15 by a bolt 30. Tubular end 29 also has a shoulder formed thereon which abuts in sealing engagement with gasket 26. The tubular end 29 is smaller in diameter than the cylindrical part 25 so that there is a space therebetween. This cylindrical part 25 is provided with an elongated bottom opening 31 while the tubular end 29 is provided with an elongated top opening 32. The result is that if an excess amount of liquid is directed into the tub 10 the excess will flow up through the bottom opening 31, around the tubular end 29, down through the top opening 32 and out the interior of the outlet tube 27 to the exterior of the casing 11, all as indicated by the arrow 33 in FIGURE 4.

As can be seen from the above description, the safety outlet tube 27 permits overflow of excess liquid to the exterior of the casing in the event of malfunction of the liquid supply portion of the apparatus. This outlet tube 27 has its entrance which is the top opening 32 located above the lowermost of the series of passages 17. Thus, normally, the liquid will flow from the chamber 19 into the interior of the tub without rising to a level suflicient to reach the opening 32. However, in the event of the above described malfunctioning, excess liquid will flow to the exterior of the dishwasher.

In the illustrated embodiment the receiver which with the enclosed portion of the inner surface of the tub 10 defines the chamber 19 may be attached to the tub by a plurality of fastening means such as bolts'engaging threaded openings 34. As shown in FIGURE 2 there are provisions for a pair of these bolts on opposite sides of the receiver 15 which operate in conjunction with the bolt 30 that also holds the outlet tube 27 in place to secure the receiver 15 to the tub.

Having described our invention as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is our intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified.

The embodiment of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed is defined as follows:

1. A fluid flow system for a receptacle, comprising: a liquid receptacle having vent means therein; a liquid receiver in said receptacle communicating with said vent means; means providing a fluid passage between said receiver and receptacle at an area below said vent means; projecting means for projecting liquid in an open stream through said vent means into said receiver for flow through said passage into said receptacle with simultaneous flow of gaseous fluid including air from said receptacle by Way of said passage, receiver and vent means; and an overfill safety device in said receiver above the bottom of said passage comprising an outlet means from said receiver through said receptacle having an entrance and barrier means between said entrance and said projecting means.

2. The fluid flow system of claim 1 wherein said receiver substantially entirely encloses said vent means.

3. The fluid flow system of claim 1 wherein said receiver is provided with a mounting member for holding said projecting means, the mounting member extending through said vent means to the exterior of said receptacle.

4. The fluid flow system of claim 1 wherein said receiver is provided with intercepting means for intercepting tending to splash from said receiver and said receptacle back through said vent means.

5. The fluid flow system of claim 1 wherein said fluid passage comprises a plurality of vertically spaced elongated passagees in said receiver adjacent the bottom thereof.

6. The fluid flow system of claim 1 wherein means are provided for substantially sealing said receiver to said receptacle around said vent means, said receiver is provided with a mounting member for holding said projecting means, the mOunting member extending through said vent means to the exterior of said receptacle, and said receiver is provided with intercepting means for intercepting liquid tending to splash from said receiver and said receptacle back through said vent means.

7. The fluid flow system of claim 1 wherein a portion of the inside wall of said liquid receptacle also forms one Wall of said liquid receiver.

8. The fluid flow system of claim 1 wherein a casing is provided substantially around said liquid receptacle and the outlet means of said safety device is positioned through said casing.

9. The fluid flow system of claim 1 wherein said fluid passage comprises a plurality of vertically spaced elongated passages in said receiver adjacent the bottom thereof, and said outlet means is above the bottom one of said passages.

10. The fluid flow system of claim 9 wherein said receiver is provided with intercepting means for intercepting liquid tending to splash from said receiver and said receptacle back through said vent means, the intercepting means comprising a downwardly and inwardly inclined baflle within said receiver above each of said passages.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,337,356 12/1943 Stoddard 134-186 2,417,908 3/1947 Bowen 68-207 XR 2,631,448 3/1953 Garman 137-216 XR 2,650,708 9/1953 Norton.

2,818,720 1/1958 Geldhof et al. 137-216 XR 3,005,329 10/1961 Stone 137-216 XR 3,394,725 7/1968 Macoicz 137-216.1

ROBERT G. NILSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 68-207, 208 

